Back on stage: Rock & Rails to resume in 2021

Last year, Niwot's signature summer music series, Rock & Rails, went off the rails thanks to pandemic-related safety restrictions. This year, event organizers are doing everything they can to get it back on track.

"Right now, we have most of our regular favorites ready to return on the stage," said Satir DeMarco, who is in charge of arranging performers, managing the stage and emceeing the event. "We know people like to get out and dance. And we need to come together to comfort and appreciate each other."

Current plans are to hold the event every Thursday night on the stage at Whistle Stop Park as it's always been, from early June through August. While plans are in place to open June 3, the first Thursday of the month, the start could be delayed to comply with gathering restrictions. The possible delayed start would allow more time to determine exactly what current health restrictions mandate in terms of things like occupancy limits, contact tracing, masking, and other health restrictions.

At press time, Boulder County had moved to the modified Level Blue on the COVID-safety dial, which allows for outdoor seated and unseated events to maintain 100 percent of typical capacity with six-foot social distancing. That level was expected to remain in place through May 16, with the county moving to Level Clear on May 16 for 90 days, which would remove all gathering restrictions other than masking recommendations. But as everyone has seen, those restrictions can change with changing health conditions.

With an optimistic love of music and community in mind, DeMarco has been busy booking performers for the dates. Confirmed acts include FACE, One on One, Last Men on Earth, The Long Run, and Chris Daniels and the Kings. Hazel Miller is set to play for the final concert as she has in the past, and DeMarco has been booking opening acts for each night as well. Concerts start at 5 p.m. and end by 9 p.m.

Volunteers are setting aside their time to help. "Our core group of volunteers are all in, they're ready to get back to work," said volunteer organizer Jenn Porter. "People missed it. This crew of us have been serving the community and putting on really cool events for a number of years. It's the core of what we do every summer. Being able to come back together again will make our hearts happy."

Porter mentioned that one group already committed is the Niwot High School girls' volleyball team which will be managing the bike valet area again. In addition, The Gargoyles, Niwot middle and high school student volunteers, will help manage event trash collection, recycling and composting. Porter and Julie Breyer are managing the Gargoyles this year, with help from previous organizer Jill Whitener. Others interested in volunteering can contact Porter at niwotvols@gmail.com.

This year, there will also be a brand new element to Rock and Rails' food and beverage service - it will be the first year the volunteers can make use of a new building, known as The Depot, that was constructed just for the concert series.

According to Vicki Maurer, who will again coordinate the event's alcohol service with Dan Hawk, it will make things a lot easier. "We are excited to be able to use the building, because it will save us time during set up and take down since we won't have to transfer equipment off site or across the park," she said.

Above all, Rock & Rails is a good time for everyone. Adults enjoy music and food/beverage either at the event or downtown. Downtown businesses enjoy a boost from people being able to see them. And even kids have a good time dancing or being at the nearby Niwot Children's Park with their family members or their friends.

"For us, having to not hold it last year was heartbreaking," Porter said. "We are excited to get it going again. These kinds of events are about community."